Youthful Wildcats will have to grow up fast

By Derek Berry

November 16th, 2000

It has been said that youth brings enthusiasm to a hockey team. Whilethis is true, youth cannot make up for experience. That’s something theNorthern Michigan University Wildcats lost a lot of after last season.In fact, three of its five leading scorers from the 1999-2000campaign-Roger Trudeau (17 goals, 8 assists, 25 points), Bryan Phillips(6-14-20) and J.P. Vigier (9-11-20)-are no longer there.

Can the team be just as solid with the players they have coming back?Head coach Rick Comley, one of the most honest coaches in college hockeyor any sport for that matter, is not sure experience equals solidity.“I’m not so sure those two things go together,” says coach Comley, inhis 25th season with NMU and the only coach in their history. “There’sno question with a senior goaltender and six returning defensemen thatwe can be solid. The question is will we be?”

Indeed a very good question. Suppose one of those players goes down?Suppose one of them isn’t performing up to their potential? What then?That’s where, if your Northern Michigan, you hope that the experienceyou gain from each game and each practice adds to the playersrepertoires…in a hurry.

“It’s something we work on in practice, trying to give all of thefreshman and sophomores more opportunities, chances and ways to getexperience,” says NMU team captain and senior defenseman Mike Sandbeck.“We have to keep everyone involved, because everyone has good days andbad days. We have to keep everyone focused.”

Focus will be no problem in goal, with Marquette native, senior DanRagusett (16-9-3, 2.15) minding the nets. Ragusett has plenty ofexperience and has been through a lot, even getting a few more startsthan senior Duane Hoey last season. Now, Ragusett will be looked uponas the man.

Even youngster Chris Gobert, he of the sophomore variety and a member ofthe all-rookie team last year, believes the goaltending situation isstrong. And he should know, after having played against talented RyanMiller (MSU) in juniors.

The defense is in pretty decent shape too. NMU’s defense, much likeMSU’s WMU’s, is unique in that it can chip in offensively. Guys likeSandbeck and Jimmy Jackson (Marquette) back on the point generate plentyof assists. Seniors and even juniors seem to comprise the defense alittle bit more for Comley’s team.

Whether on defense or offense though, Comley and his players agree thatteam quickness and speed are definitely a big part of the Wildcatssystem. It’s why they can skate with just about anybody in the country.“I think we have good team quickness,” says Sandbeck. “Once we get thatgoing, the offense and goal scoring will come together.”

With so much youth on offense, that will be a question mark. Yes, thereare Chris Goberts on this team, but not everyone is that talented.Comley, in fact, raves about his youngster, whose star shone brightly inhis first CCHA season.

“Chris is one of the most talented offensive players I have ever seen,”says Comley. “He has the god-given ability to score goals.”

Don’t be surprised to see Gobert and perhaps a Jimmy Jackson on thepower play, which is going to need some work. “Our special teams,particularly our power play, are going to be keys to our improvement,”says Comley. “We’re not going to score easy enough on the power playthrough the season.”

NMU was fairly average, but still dangerous, on the power play lastseason (ranking 7th overall in the league). Comley is hoping to boostthat total this season. It’ll be tough.

“The power play is good…it’s a little slow, but it’s coming along,” saysSandbeck. “We’ve got good talent, so I think we can pull it together.”The penalty is a better story for the ‘cats. Messing with NMU’s penaltykill is like messing with Texas. You just don’t want to do it.

“Our penalty kill, like everyone else’s, is important and another bigkey,” says Comley. “I think we’re looking pretty good there, but again,we can’t give up too much, because we won’t be able to score as much.”Sandbeck agrees adding that the defense and goaltending will really makethe kill stand up. The offensive players will have to adjust at timesand play a more defensive style, especially against the big guns likeMichigan, Michigan State and Lake Superior.

Which brings us to the all-important schedule. NMU sits in the uniqueposition (way up in Marquette to be exact) where travel can becometiring, restless and a big burden. Comley makes no bones about it.“The travel is hard and I don’t like it,” says Comley. “But, it’ssomething that we have to do, being who we are.”

For traveling so much, which NMU has done in its first few years back inthe CCHA, it has done surprisingly well. The Wildcats finished fourthlast year and were virtually in the league title chase with a month togo in the season.

But, the young Wildcats also are in the tough cluster this year in theirschedule having to play U-M, MSU and LSSU four times each. Ouch. Thatcan either be very helpful or hurtful to them. NMU will see LakeSuperior and Michigan State in November, with a visit from Michigan inearly December. The last part of the season offers no breaks either,with MSU, U-M, Miami and LSSU comprising the schedule in the finalmonth. Tough.

But, Sandbeck takes a positive mental attitude toward all of the bustrips on the road that the Wildcats make (yes, everything but Alaska isby bus).

“We know the trips are long and grueling, but it helps us stay focusedand bond as a team,” says Sandbeck.

Plus, you have guys like Gobert who traveled a lot in juniors and getused to all of that time on the road.

Comley knows his team bonds on the road, but he’d prefer not to havethose bus rides.

“I still don’t like those (bus rides),” he says.

Hopefully though, those bus rides will make the Wildcats a contenderbefore the March playoff swing comes around. Either way, it’ll be agood learning experience for a young team.

SIDEBARQuestions about NMU in 2000-01:*Will all of the senior losses kill them?*Will Dan Ragusett be able to save games for them?*Will the high-flying, speedy team take even the top dogs (U-M, MSU) bysurprise?*Will penalty kill and power play be balanced enough?